On a fiercely hot summer's day in late 1836 a visionary stood on a small hill in still largely unexplored southern Australia and mapped out the core of a new city. His master plan called for a central area measuring one square mile encircled totally with parklands. Wide avenues were to bisect at right angels and five designated city squares would be artistic gardens. Today a statue of the founding father, Colonel William Light gazes out from the same hill Adelaide's grand design is unique among Australian cities. The locals with only a little bias in their admiration are convinced that it's the nation's most beautiful city.

Because of the distinct grid system of streets and squares the South Australian capital is perfect for walking. Begin your exploration at its epicentre, Victoria Square. A walk in any direction from the city's large green heart is a memorable journey through another era.

Many of Adelaide's fine colonial buildings remain. Of particular interest in the central area is the Treasury Building built in 1839, the General Post Office from 1867 and the stately Town Hall. The latter, constructed in 16th Renaissance style in 1863, displays the faces of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert carved into its facade. The greatest concentration of grand old historic veterans is found, however, on North Terrace, a tree-lined thoroughfare sporting such architectural treasures as the marble colonnaded Parliament House; the Art Gallery with its noted display of Australian art coins; the State Library; the Holy Trinity Church, the oldest Anglican church in South Australia and Ayers House, a fine Victorian mansion that was the former residence of Sir Henry Ayers, five times the premier of South Australia and the namesake for Ayers Rock.

An entire day can easily be devoted to the South Australian Museum. A landmark on North Terrace, this treasure trove houses a world class collection of Aboriginal artefacts as well as a superb exhibition of Melanesian art and culture.

 

Just beyond North Terrace is another of William's Light's far sighted contributions. The fine parklands which still completely surround the city's square mile and another neighbouring gridded district, North Adelaide, are year around attractions. The River Torrens cuts across this green belt and curves around the northern edge of the city centre. It provides a reflective and scenic addition to the capital's well maintained lawns, gardens and parklands. Speaking of rivers, The mighty Murray River could not go without a mention here. Millions of years in the making, this incredible watercourse is one of the longest in the world.

Like the Torrens, Adelaide is noted for its tranquil nature and charming environment. But the city does have a lively side. If you're after some wining, dining and dancing, Adelaide can cater an evening to remember in the down-to-earth Hindley Street as well as the upmarket Melbourne Street in North Adelaide. In either location are discos, pubs, piano bars and cabarets plus rock and jazz groups. Both entertainment centres also have a variety of indoor and al fresco restaurants catering to every taste and price range. There are chic establishments specialising in French and German as well as Chinese and Indian cuisines plus inexpensive roving pie carts serving Adelaide's gastronomic speciality, the 'pie floater', a typical Australian meat pie swimming in a pool of pea soup. Some first time diners swear by these local delights; others swear at them!

The Adelaide Hills are a picture-perfect rural retreat dotted with storey book villages, cool waterfalls, rugged gorges, sparkling streams, green pastures, fields of wildflowers which blossom to bursting point from September through November, cherry orchards and almond groves. The Hills not only change colour with the seasons they shelter a wide variety of native wildlife and birds both inside and outside its 15 recreation and conservation parks.

Canunda National Park - South Australia

If you are keen on koalas stop at the Cleland Conservation Park for a quick cuddle with a marsupial and a stroll among the gum trees looking out for lorikeets and other colourful Australian birds. If the wide open spaces are of interest there are over 1000km of crisscrossed hiking paths to pursue. These well marked tracks provide opportunities at every step to enjoy magnificent scenery and the area's distinct flora and fauna.

The Hills is not without a touch of Continental class which is best seen through its German heritage. Hahndorf, the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia was established in 1839 by Lutherans who fled Prussia to escape religious persecution. Little more than a charming hamlet but a very popular day trip from Adelaide, Hahndorf is a time capsule of historic old buildings that have been lovingly restored. Inside some are shops which cater for the passing tourist parade with authentic German breads and sausages. Peaceful and quiet for most of the year the 1200 locals and a far greater number of fun-loving visitors shift into party mode for several German style festivals and celebrations including the mid January Scheutzenfest Beer Festival. Wine also flows like water during this fest. Much of it comes from the famed Barossa Valley, an intensely cultivated 'gold mine' just beyond the Adelaide Hills.

Always in competition with the Hunter valley of New South Wales for the title of "Australia's best-known wine producing valley", the Barossa is just 40km long and from 5 to 11 km wide. Yet within this fertile rectangle only 60km north of Adelaide are panoramic vistas, historic homes and churches, museums and galleries and numerous places to stay for a night or a week including several upmarket bed and breakfast inns and yes, wineries to visit. Established as a wine region in the 1840's, the Barossa has somewhere over 35 wineries. Many of them are open to the public, offer guided tours and fee wine tastings of everything from full bodies Cabernet Sauvignons to light fruity chardonnays and on through to rich fortified ports and sherry style wines. The Barossa wine makers don't pop their corks at an annual party although they do have a yearly gourmet weekend in August. Instead the Barossa Valley Vintage Festival attracts a worldwide following-around Easter on every odd numbered year-for a week long blast of German 'oom pah pah' music and folk dancing. It's all dished up with plenty of food and drink and unrivalled revelry. Also keep an eye out for fruit-picking work around the wineries and other orchid areas. Seasonal positions are always opening up.

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